Apparatus for brush polishing glassware



April 30, 1963 Filed Jan. 13, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 30, 1963 l. A. HECK Em. 3,087,283

APPARATUS FOR BRUSH POLISHING GLASSWARE Filed Jan. 13,. 1961 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9^? w 5- i i; W INVENTORS y dfn/Aw n/freien 7 7 Q 77 ./F-"ZZ/sfaA/o 1,4 .ref/maf April 30, 1963 l. A. HECK ETAL 3,087,283

APPARATUS FOR BRUSH POLISHING GLASSWARE Filed Jan. 15, 1961 Z7 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 State This invention relates generally to apparatus for polishing glassware, and more particularly to apparatus for polishing the grind marks on cut glassware.

Cut glassware is formed by cutting the design into the glassware by means of an abrasive wheel or the like and then polishing the gray cut surfaces formed by the abrasive wheel to form a smooth, transparent surface. Our invention is directed primarily to apparatus for simultaneously polishing transversely extending cuts and longitudinally extending cuts in an expeditious, efficient manner, without manual assistance. Prior art devices are objectionable in that they require an excessive amount of manual assistance, and are generally too slow to be practical for large volume commercial production. Prior art devices are also limited by the width of their brushes in the length of cuts that they can polish. They are also limited in that they cannot satisfactorily polish cuts which extend perpendicular to each other. Additionally, the means for supplying polishing compound to the workpiece in prior art devices are unsatisfactory in that they fail to supply polishing compound of uniform consistency.

Accordingly, it is an important object of our invention to provide glassware polishing apparatus having brushes positioned for simultaneously polishing longitudinally and transversely extending glass cut surfaces.

Another object of our invention is to provide improved glassware polishing apparatus having independent polishing compound supply means capable of supplying polishing compound of uniform consistency to the work-piece.

A further object of our invention is to provide improved glassware polishing apparatus having a longitudinally oscillating chuck for increasing the length of the cuts which may be polished.

The specific nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings, on which, by way of example only, the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of our invention with the chuck drive means removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional View taken along the line 2 2 of FlG. l with the side brush drive means removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of our invention with parts broken away to better show the side brush drive means;

FIG. 4 is a partial/plan view showing the side brushes engaging glassware having a conical side wall; and,

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the polishing compound supply means of our invention.

Basically, our invention in its preferred form comprises a base B, a slowly rotating, oscillating chuck C for supporting the glassware, a rst brush 1 positioned to polish longitudinally extending cuts, second brushes 2 positioned to polish transversely extending cuts, and polishing compound supply system for supplying compound to the surface of the glassware and brushes when they are in polishing relationship,

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base B comprises four vertical support legs 10, outer cross members 11 and v12.,

inner cross members 13 and 14, upper cross members 15 and 16, and a second set of vertical supports 17 and 18. The p-reviously mentioned suppor-ting members are preferably formed of angle iron or the like and are welded into an integral frame structure to provide a base B for the apparatus of our invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the glassware G having gray cut surfaces 9, which are to be polished, is preferably supported by a vacuum-type chuck C. The chuck C comprises a resilient pad 27 mounted on the end of a shaft 25 having an internal bore 26 extending therethrough. The bore 26 communicates at one end of the shaft with the resilient pad 27 and at the other end with a rotatably mounted, hermetically sealed connector 2S. The connector is adapted to remain stationary when the shaft 25 rotates. The connector 28 has a tubular extension 29 which is operatively connected to a conventional means for creating a vacuum, such as a vacuum pump. The shaft 25 is journaled in bearing blocks 30 and 31 which are mounted on a bearing block mounting bracket 22. The bearing block mounting bracket 22 is supported between two vertical supports 20 and 21 which are secured at their upper ends to the upper cross member 15 and at their lower ends to the inner cross member 13. The shaft 25 has pinned thereto, intermediate bearing blocks 3) and 31, a cam 32 having a cam surface 33. A follower bracket 34 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 25 intermediate the cam 32 and the bearing block 31. The follower bracket 34 has two cam followers 35 projecting longitudinally into contact with the cam surface 33. See FIG. 3. Secured to the other end of the follower bracket is a sprocket 36 which is provided for the purpose of driving the follower bracket relative to the earn 32, in a manner to be described. 'Ihe cam is urged against the cam followers 35 by means of a spring 31a, which bears against the bearing block 3-1 and a spur gear 38. The spur gear 38 is pinned to the shaft 25. The shaft 25 is driven by means of an electric drive motor 39 which drives through a sprocket 40, a chain 41, and a second sprocket 42. The second sprocket 42 is pinned to a drive shaft 43 which is journaled in bearing blocks 45 and 46. The bearing blocks 45 and 46 are secured to the bearing block mounting bracket 22. The drive shaft 43 is maintained in place by means of collars 47 which are pinned thereto. The drive shaft 43 has pinned thereto a pinion gear 44 which runs in mesh with the previously described spur gear 33 mounted on the shaft 25.

Accordingly, the sha-ft 25 is rotated by means of the drive motor 39, driving through the pinion gear 44 and the spur gear 38. The aforementioned gear train is ratioed so that the drive motor will drive the shaft 25 at a relatively slow rate. The drive shaft 43 has also pinned thereto a sprocket 4S which is -in line with the previously mentioned sprocket 36, located on the shaft 25, and operatively connected to the sprocket 36 by a chain 49. The sprocket 48 and the sprocket 36 are sized so `as to have `a different transmission ratio than that of the pinion gear 44 `and spur gear 3S, whereby the follower bracket 34, which is secured to the sprocket 36, will rotate at a different speed than the cam 32 which is pinned to the shaft 25. This differential in rotational speed will cause the spring-loaded shaft 25 to oscillare longitudinally yas the cam `followers 35 ride on the cam surface 33. It is to be understood, of course, that other conventional means can be used to provide oscillatory, longitudinal motion of the shaft 25.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be noted that the first brush 1 is rotatably mounted in plane parallel to and in line with the axis of rotation of the glassware G and chuck C. The means for supporting and rotating the first brush 1 is described hereinafter. A mounting bracket 55 having a vertical mounting surface 56 is positioned or supported by the upper cross members and i6. An electric motor 57 is secured at one end of the mounting bracket 55. A bearing bracket 58 is secured to the vertical mounting surface 56. A hinge shaft 59 is journaled in the bearing bracket 58 and hingedly supports one end of :a support frame or platform 60. The support frame 60 has journaled at its outer end a brush shaft 61. The brush shaft `61 has secured thereto at one end a pulley 62 and at the other end a conventional bristle polishing brush 63. The bristle brush 63, which preferably cornpr-ises one or more circular -bristle brushes placed in faceto-face relationship, is secured in place by spindle housing 69 pinned to the shaft 61. The end of shaft 59 has pinned thereto an inner pulley 53 and an outer pulley S4. The brush shaft 61 is driven by means of the electric motor 57 which -drives the -outer pulley 54, located on the hinge shaft 59, through a pulley 50 and belt 51. Rotational motion is supplied from the hinge shaft 59 to the brush shaft 61 by means of the inner pulley 53, a belt 52, and the pulley 62. The brush 63 is lowered and raised into and out of engagement with the glassware G by means of a air cylinder 67, which is connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the support frame 60 by means of an eye 64 secured to the frame and a clevis formed on that end of the air cylinder, the eye and clevis being secured together by a conventional hinge pin. The other end of the air cylinder 67 is secured to a vertical support 65 by means of an eye 66 formed on a vertical -support and a clevis `68` located on the air cylinder, the eye 66 and the clevis 68 being secured together by a conventional ln'nge pin.

Referring to FIGS. 1 `and 3, it may be noted that the second brushes 2 are respectively rotatably mounted in planes which are perpendicular to the side wall of the glassware G. The respective structures for supporting and rotating are mirror images of each other, and accordingly, only one will be described hereinafter. Referring to FIG. 3, an adjustable mounting platform 70 is adjustably secured to the cross members 11 and 14 by bolts 73 which extend through slots 71 and 72 formed in the mounting platform. The mounting platform 7 0' has mounted thereon `two bearing brackets 74 which have journaled therein a hinge shaft 76. A hinge shaft 76 hingedly supports one end of a frame 75. The frame 75 has journaled at its outer end -a brush supporting shaft 79. The shaft 79 has a pulley 81 secured thereto at one end and a conventional bristle polishing brush 80 at the other end. The brush 80, which preferably comprises one or more circular brushes placed in face-to-face relationship, is maintained on the shaft 79 by means of spindle hubs 86a. A pulley 81 is connected by `a belt `81a to an inner pulley 77 mounted on the shaft 76. The shaft 76 also has mounted thereon an outer pulley 78. Depending rods 86 extend downwardly from the platform 70 and support an electric drive motor 88. The drive motor 88 drives the outer pulley 718 through a pulley 87 and a belt 89. The frame 75 is pivoted to move the brush 80 into and out of engagement with the glassware G by means of an air cylinder 84. One end of the air cylinder 84 is secured to an intermediate portion of the frame 75 by means of a clevis `83 mounted on the frame and an eye '83a located on the end of the air cylinder, the clevis and eye being secured together by a conventional hinge pin. The other end of the air cylinder 84 is secured to the platform 70 by -a clevis 82 mounted on the platform and an eye 82a formed on the 'air cylinder, the clevis and eye being secured together by a conventional hinge pin.

In FIG. 4, the second brushes 2 are shown positioned about glassware G having a conical side wall. The second brushes 2 can `be in yline perpendicular to the side wall of the glassware by adjusting the respective platform 70K relative to the base B. The longitudinal movement of the glassware G having a conical side wall of the type illusltrated in FIG. 4 is compensated for by the flexible bristle brushes which allow a certain amount of longitudinal movement, and also by the backward movement of the brushes. As has been described before, the brushes are maintained in polishing engagement with the glassware by the air cylinders 84. A relatively low amount of air press-ure, preferably about 8 psi., is supplied to the air cylinders, thereby providing an air cushion which will allow the brushes to move backwardly as the glassware having a conical side wall is -advanced into engagement with them.

Referring to FIG. 5, the polishing compound supply means comprises a drain or collection tank 90 positioned to collect the polishing compound 97 after it has been used. It may be noted that the polishing compound 97 preferably comprises water, cerium oxide suspended in water, and a conventional anti-foaming agent. A return line 91 directs the compound from the drain tank to a sump 92. The sump has mounted therein a paddle wheel agitator 93 which stirs up the compound and prevents the cerium oxide from `going out of suspension. A line 94 connects the compound with the sump to the input side of a pump 95. The output side of the pump lis connected to at supply line 9'6 which directs the compound to the glassware. See FIG. l.

In operation, the operator places the glassware on the resilient pad 27 and actuates the vacuum creating means to thereby hold the glassware to the resilient pad. The motor 39 is energized to slowly rotate the shaft 25 and to cause it to oscillate in a longitudinal direction. The pump 95 and paddle wheel agitator 93 are energized and polishing compound is directed through the conduit 96 to the glassware G and the brushes. The drive motors 88 and 57 `are energized to drive the first and second brushes. The brushes are then moved by their respective air cylinders into engagement with the glassware, and the polishing operation commenced. In stopping the polishing operation the previously described cycle of events is reversed. The timing means for operating the previously described elements for our invention are suitable conventional means and comprise no part of this invention.

It will, of course, be understood that various details vof construction may be modified through a wide range without departing from the principles of :this invention, and it is not, therefore, the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. Apparatus for polishing glassware having a side wall comprising, sa base, a rotary chuck mounted `on said base for supporting said glassware, means for rotating said chuck, a first brush mounted for rotation with its axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the 'axis of rotation of said chuck, means yfor rotating `said first brush, means for moving said first brush into and out of polishing engagement with said glassware, at least one second brush mounted for rotation with its axis of rotation sub- Stantial-ly parallel to the side wall of said glassware, means for rotating said second brush, means for moving said Second brush into and out of polishing engagement with said glassware, and means for supplying polishing compound of uniform consistency through a conduit to said glassware and brushes.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim l, plus means for oscillating said chuck along its axis of rotation, thereby allowing said brushes to polish a wider area.

3. Apparatus for polishing glassware having a side wall, comprising, a base, a vacuum `chuck rotatably mounted on said base, said chuck being adapted to support said glassware with the laxis of said glassware in line with the axis of rotation of said chuck, means for slowly rotating said chuck, a first brush, a shiftable support for rotatably mounting said iirst brush with its axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said chuck, means for rotating said first brush, means for shifting said support to move said rst brush into and out of polishing engagement with said glassware, at least one second brush, 'a shiftable second support for rotatably mounting said brush with its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the side Wall of said glassware, means for rotating said second brush, means for shifting said second support `to move said second brush into and out of polishring engagement with said glassware, and means for supplying polishing compound of uniform consistency through a conduit Ito said glassware and brushes.

4. Apparatus as ydefined in claim 3, plus means for oscillating said chuck along its axis of rotation, thereby -allowing said brushes to polish a Wider area.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said lastmentioned means includes a sump, an -agitator mounted in `said sump for stirring said compound, 'thereby keeping said compound at a uniform consistency, a drain pan for collecting used compound for return to said sump, and a pump for pumping compound through a conduit to said glassware and brushes.

6. Apparatus as `defined in claim 3, wherein said shiftable supports comprise hinged platforms and the means for shifting said supports comprise air cylinders opera- Itively connected to said hinged platforms.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 562,268 Ashton June 16, 1896 1,409,888 Taylor Mar. 14, 1922 1,652,494 Parker Dec. 13, -1927 2,170,610 Schutz Aug. 22, 1939 2,700,255 Meier Jan. 25, 1955 

1. APPARATUS FOR POLISHING GLASSWARE HAVING A SIDE WALL COMPRISING, A BASE, A ROTARY CHUCK MOUNTED ON SAID BASE FOR SUPPORTING SAID GLASSWARE, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CHUCK, A FIRST BRUSH MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITH ITS AXIS OF ROTATION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CHUCK, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID FIRST BRUSH, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FIRST BRUSH INTO AND OUT OF POLISHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GLASSWARE, AT LEAST ONE SECOND BRUSH MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITH ITS AXIS OF ROTATION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE SIDE WALL OF SAID GLASSWARE, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SECOND BRUSH, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID 